Apologies as I'm out of my depth a bit here folks. My friend's dad passed away at the weekend. His name was Reg Walker, he was from Birkenhead and he'd been a glider pilot at Arnhem and I believe the Rhine. I believe he enlisted on the Wirral - perhaps even at Caldy where he played cricket all his life? I know he trained in Canada and I've seen pictures of him in a Dakota taken there. I think he was a sergeant but I don't have a service number or regiment. I'm usually much better prepared than this, but the funeral is on Wednesday and his sons have come from Australia and Canada, and have to fly back the same day. Any help or details would be great - if someone had a list of glider pilots from the operation, just to start me off. As I say, I'm normally better prepared, but can't be asking questions of the family just at the moment. Regards, Brian
Apologies as I'm out of my depth a bit here folks. My friend's dad passed away at the weekend. His name was Reg Walker, he was from Birkenhead and he'd been a glider pilot at Arnhem and I believe the Rhine. I believe he enlisted on the Wirral - perhaps even at Caldy where he played cricket all his life? I know he trained in Canada and I've seen pictures of him in a Dakota taken there. I think he was a sergeant but I don't have a service number or regiment. I'm usually much better prepared than this, but the funeral is on Wednesday and his sons have come from Australia and Canada, and have to fly back the same day. Any help or details would be great - if someone had a list of glider pilots from the operation, just to start me off. As I say, I'm normally better prepared, but can't be asking questions of the family just at the moment. Regards, Brian Hello Brian, I have been through all my books relating to GP's and I can only find reference to two guys with the name Walker. One died of wounds at Apeldoorn Hospital in Holland as a result of Op Market Garden so this is obviously not your fella. The other was a S/Sgt F S Walker of C Sqdn, No.2 Wing, Chalk Number 363. He flew from Tarrant Rushton on the 17th Sept carrying men of the Recce Squadron. He was captured and taken POW by the Germans and held at Stalag 11B (Fallingbostel) as POW number 118041. Now, if you say you're chap took part in the Varsity Op, it's highly unlikely it was S/Sgt F S Walker as he would have still been in Fallingbostel at the time. If you PM me your email details I'll send you my GP list. All the best..........
Brian - do you have his full name?, I would presume that it is Reginald Something Walker PS - nowhere near an expert on this, but weren't the GP members of the Army? I thought only RAF aircrew were sent to Canada for training. Is it possible he was actually a Dakota pilot that towed Gliders during the airborne landings?
Brian - do you have his full name?, I would presume that it is Reginald Something Walker PS - nowhere near an expert on this, but weren't the GP members of the Army? I thought only RAF aircrew were sent to Canada for training. Is it possible he was actually a Dakota pilot that towed Gliders during the airborne landings? You make a very good point Dave. I know that a lot of RAF pilots were "drafted" into the Glider Pilot Regiment following Arnhem to bring the Regiment back up to strength for Op Varsity. Perhaps Reg was one of them? All the best............
Thanks for the replies all - I went to Reg's funeral today and there were other vets from both army and RAF - we had a drink at the local RAFA club. Mike - Reg's youngest son isn't flying out now until Monday - so I'll have some time to ask him a few questions and get a few details.
